How To Sew A Button - BEGINNERS Guide - Treasurie Blog

Share it Now, Make it Later!

Do you have something to mend, or are you a new sewer wondering how to sew a button? In just a few easy steps, I will teach you everything you need to know about sewing buttons easily and quickly, either by hand or machine. This tutorial is aimed at beginners, so don't worry if this is new!

How to Sew a Button Tutorial

The basic steps for sewing a button are

1. Thread the needle and mark the button position.
2. Insert the needle from underneath the fabric up through the button holes.
3. Stitch through the holes several times.
4. Wind the thread around the bottom of the button and knot off.

There are 2 kinds of buttons – flat buttons and shank buttons. The method you use for how to sew a button will depend on the button type. Read more about the types of buttons and sizes of buttons.

The beginning part of this tutorial will show you how to sew a button by hand, but did you know you can also use your sewing machine for small, flat buttons?

How to Sew a Button, Step by Step Instructions

Here is how to sew a button with 2 holes, which is the most common type. Further down, I will show you some variations, including buttons with 4 holes and buttons with a shank.

Flat buttons can have 2 or 4 holes and are the most common type of button found on clothing. As the name suggests, the buttons are flat with no loop protruding out of the back. The holes will go right through the button from the top to the bottom.

Here is a short video I made to show you how to sew the 3 types of buttons by hand. If you love craft and sewing videos, make sure you subscribe to the Treasurie YouTube channel.

You will need:

• Thread - choose a strong polyester thread
• Hand Sewing Needle
• Scissors

Step 1 - Thread the Needle

Regardless of the type of button you have, the first step will be to thread a needle.

Cut 16 inches of thread and thread it double through your needle. Knot the end. You can use a single thread but it is normally not strong enough for button sewing unless you have a really thick thread.

If you are having trouble getting the thread through the eye of the needle, use a needle threader to help. These small silver devices normally come with a packet of needles and can be really useful. Read more about how to thread a needle

Step 2 - Mark the Button Position

Mark your sewing button position. If you are replacing a button, you can clearly see where to sew it. For sewing patterns, it should be marked on the pattern piece with a cross or dot.

On the right side of the fabric, put your needle down into the fabric and come up a short distance away (⅛" (3mm). Cut any excess thread after the knot. This knot will be hidden by the button when you are finished.

Step 3 - Stitch the Button On

Thread the needle through one side of the button. Make sure the button is centered on the mark.

Put the needle back down through the opposite hole. (If you are sewing a button that needs to go through a thick coat or jacket, place a toothpick or pin across the buttons so you are stitching over it. This will give the button more height. For a shirt button, you don't need to do this.)

Stitch through the holes a few more times. How many times will depend on the thickness of your thread. Go through at least 3 times.

End with the needle at the back of the fabric

Step 4 - Make a Shank and Knot Off

Bring the needle up to the top but not through the button.

Wrap the thread in a circle around the stitches 3 times. This lifts the button off the fabric slightly.

Take a small stitch as the side and knot it off by passing the needle through the loop and pulling tight. Trim the end (this will be hidden under the button).

How to Sew a Button Variations

Sewing Buttons With 4 Holes

This method for sewing a four-hole button is very similar to the above 2 hole buttons.

Stitch through the holes a few more times in a cross pattern, as shown. Most 4 hole buttons are sewn with the cross pattern, but you could also sew it going across or down so you have 2 bars. This is just a personal preference. As long as you have a strong thread and enough stitches, it will hold just as well.

Bring the needle up to the top but not through the button. Wrap the thread around the stitches a few times at the base of the button. Pass the needle to the side and knot it off.

Sew a Button With a Shank

Shank buttons have no holes on the top but instead have the holes through an extra barrel-shaped piece at the back of the button. They can only be sewn by hand as there is nothing on top for the sewing machine to go through. These buttons are also better for thicker fabrics and jackets as they sit higher than flat buttons.

Learning how to sew a button with a shank starts out the same way but instead of passing the needle through the center of the button you will be passing it through the shank (or hole) underneath.

Thread the needle through the shank on the underside of the button. Bring the needle to the top and stitch through the shank a few more times. Pass the needle to the side and knot it off a couple of times.

Sewing Buttons With a Sewing Machine

Learning how to sew a button with a sewing machine can save you valuable time, particularly when you have numerous buttons to sew on a shirt or dress. Have you ever tried sewing tiny buttons on men's shirts? They are everywhere. Ahh, way too much work! Done correctly, sewing buttons with a sewing machine also creates firmly held buttons that won't fall off after washing and general wear and tear.

Once you have practiced sewing a button with a sewing machine you will want to do this every time. This technique can be used to sew 2 hole or 4 hole buttons but the buttons should be relatively flat for the best results. Thick or domed buttons may not fit under the foot and will slip around so you will need to test it first.

Best Presser Foot - In order to learn how to sew a button with your sewing machine, you will need a button foot. It generally has a very wide open toe for the button to sit under and is specially shaped to hold the button in place. You can purchase a generic one to fit most low shank machines.

ALTERNATIVE: Now if you can't get hold of a special button foot, don't worry. You can actually use this same technique with a zig-zag or general foot. Just make sure the opening at the toe (where the needle goes in) is a bit wider than the holes in the button.

Your button foot should snap on like most regular feet, and you can thread your machine as you normally do. This close up reminds me that my machine needs a bit of a clean! Try and use a quality all-purpose polyester thread that won't break in the long term.

1. On your fabric, mark the position of your button. If you are worried about the button moving as you sew you can hold it in place with a bit of clear tape and remove it when you have finished sewing.
2. Place the button under the foot with the holes lined up in the open toe.
3. Put your machine on a zig-zag with a 0.0 stitch length. With a stitch length of 0.0, it will zig-zag from side to side without moving forwards. The width will depend on the exact position of the buttonholes. This small button had a width of 4.0. Just use your handwheel to make sure the width is correct and won't hit the sides of the button.
4. Once you have used the handwheel to do the first couple of stitches, put your foot down and it will zig-zag from hole to hole. Stop when you think you have enough threads. You don't need to be excessive.
5. Take the button out of the machine. Pull the threads to the back and knot off the ends.

IMPORTANT: If you put your foot on the sewing machine pedal before you have checked the needle is going through the holes correctly, you might break a needle. Full disclosure - yes, I broke a needle on my first attempt at this button. It had been a while since I'd sewn one with my machine, and I forgot to check!

A 4 hole button is sewn the same way, except that you will repeat the process for each set of holes. You can choose to go across twice, like I did in the photo below, or diagonally to make a cross shape.

So now you know how to sew a button with a sewing machine you can save precious time for more enjoyable things.

How to Sew a Button on a Shirt

Learning how to sew a button on a shirt or pants must be considered an essential life skill. You never know when a button will give up and pop off the shirt you are planning to wear—usually just as you are about to walk out the door or go somewhere important!

Shirts will need the buttons lifted slightly to go through the thicker shirt placket. When you get to step 3, put a toothpick under the stitches to add length to the shank.

TIP FOR HOW TO SEW A BUTTON ON A SHIRT: If the button keeps moving or slipping, then hold it in place with some clear tape which you can remove when you are finished.

How to Sew a Button - In Conclusion

So now you know how to sew a button both by hand and by sewing machine! You can use this method for skirts, shirts, dresses and anything you need to.

More Button Tutorials

1. Types of Buttons
2. How to Sew a Buttonhole | Automatic & Manual
3. Hand Sewn Buttonhole
4. How to Sew Buttons on a Shirt
5. How to Make Fabric Buttons
6. Alternatives to Buttonholes

How to Sew a Button

Learn how to sew a button step by step with this easy tutorial. 4.8/5 - (70 votes) Print Pin Difficulty: Easy BeginnerKeyword: Sewing Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Difficulty

Tools

• Hand Sewing Needle

Materials

• Thread

Instructions

• Cut 16 inches of thread and thread it double through your needle. Knot the end. On the right side of the fabric, put your needle down into the fabric and come up a short distance away (⅛" (3mm).
• Thread the needle through one side of the button. Make sure the button is centered on the mark. Put the needle back down through the opposite hole. Stitch through the holes a few more times. 
• Bring the needle up to the top but not through the button. Wrap the thread in a circle around the stitches 3 times. This lifts the button off the fabric slightly.
• Take a small stitch as the side and knot it off.

4.8/5 - (70 votes)